Oshede is a small Non-profit organization based in the Chorlton suburb of Manchester, UK.
We recently launched a funding plea for Malawi, East Africa to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on the poorest in society. The project is for a COVID-19 micro-grants scheme to the most disadvantaged people in rural Malawi.
As you may know, Malawi is a landlocked country that used to be a British Protectorate. Since the start of multiparty democracy in 1994, the country has struggled to attract sufficient foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and to create a thriving economy, with ample opportunities for citizens.
Poverty, Tribalism & Corruption are rife. The private sector is too small, and largely dependent on government contracts (which are relatively few and far between). Tobacco is the largest source of FDI, but dwindling sales & a successful global anti-smoking campaign has seen the country’s revenues go on a downhill trajectory in recent years. Years of economic neglect, under-investment, lack of diversification of the economy, plus successive phases of bad governance by various governments has led to a situation where most of the 18 million inhabitants live hand-to-mouth, the large majority (by some estimates ~65%) live on less than £3 a day.
The government recently announced a COVID-19 lockdown, which was subsequently blocked by a court injunction obtained by a Human Rights organization that said sufficient protections had not been put in place for the poorest in society.
Malawi’s economy (which is a mere $7.52 Billion in size) is set to shrink this year, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, caught in the crossfire of this desperate situation are millions of extremely poor Malawians who have endured years of neglect, poor administration, high levels of corruption, high taxation, & significant underinvestment in services and communities?
Our project is proposing a funding intervention in the form of small micro grants of the order of £30 each to 1,980 beneficiaries across 44 districts in Malawi.
If you would like to contribute to this initiative, or if you would like to know more, please contact us for more information, and for a copy of the draft proposal.
